Library Automation: A Case Study Of Library Management

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Library Automation: A Case Study of DIHRM Library, New Delhi

*Sufian Ahmad
Librarian, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi

Abstract

In India, some libraries and information centers made efforts to automate their library routines and services in the 1960’s. Nowadays most of the libraries have started or already have completed the process of computerization of their house keeping operations like, Acquisition, Cataloguing, Circulation, Serial Control, OPAC, etc. This article is a case study of the automation of library at DIHRM, New Delhi.

Key-words

Library Automation, Computerization of library, Library Software, Library Hardware, Database Creation.

Introduction

The term ‘automation’ was first introduced by D. S. Harder in 1936. …show more content…

Acquisition module is very versatile in terms of functioning. Starting from the allocation of funds (budgeting) it has provision to acquire documents by different means and ways.
Circulation: This module covers all the operations of circulation right from creating member records to printing of reminders for outstanding loans, no dues certificates along with issue/return/renewal of documents, stock verifications, etc.
Database Maintenance/Retrospective data conversion: This module covers all operations of database creation and maintenance. It not only takes records from the acquisition, circulation module for the books recently acquired, but can also be used for retro-conversion. Such retro- conversion can be done by capturing bibliographic details of existing collection in the library and also by downloading required records from CD-ROM database. The records are validated and merged with the database. Bar-code labels for circulation purpose can also be printed out using this …show more content…

from the respective books/journals.
The database could have also been created by filling up a separate data input sheet for each document. However it was avoided because of lengthy and time consuming process.

Problem faced in the process of automation
While cataloguing the books certain problems were faced by the library staffs. One of them was cataloguing of books which were in hindi language. Initially the data was entred in the source language but later on it was realized that users faced problems when they searched the catalogue. So the entire data was re-entered again into the roman script.
Another problem that we faced was the computers which were connected through Local Area Network (LAN) got frequently hanged because of which lot of inconveniences were caused to users as well as the staff members.

Hardware and Software requirement

Pentium IV, 256 RAM, CD-ROM Drive, Window NT or Window 2000
(Minimum Hardware and Software requirement is Pentium II, 32 MB RAM, Windows

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